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United States Patent | 6,263,283 |
Snider ,   et al. | July 17, 2001 |
A method of creating a seismic wave in a subterranean environment wherein solid propellant material is positioned in a subterranean well and ignited thereby generating a seismic wave. The seismic wave is recorded at distance from where the propellant material is ignited by means of geophones or similar recording devices. The propellant material is geometrically configured with the assistance of computer modeling. The pressure generated by the ignition is recorded in the well and used to validate the computer model for configuring subsequent propellant material employed as a seismic source.
Inventors: | Snider; Philip M. (Houston, TX); Meeder; Charles A. (Houston, TX); Wiley; Robert W. (Sugarland, TX); Schatz; John F. (Del Mar, CA); Haney; Joseph P. (Coeur d'Alene, ID); Wesson; David S. (Fort Worth, TX) |
Assignee: | Marathon Oil Company (Findlay, OH) |
Appl. No.: | 365239 |
Filed: | July 30, 1999 |
Current U.S. Class: | 702/6; 166/308.1 |
Intern'l Class: | G01V 001/40 |
Field of Search: | 702/6,14 |
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Journal of Petroleum Technology, "Technology Digest; High-Energy-Gas Well Stimulation," Feb. 1998, pp. 16 and 83. Haney et al., "The Application of an Optimized Propellant Stimulation Technique in Heavy Oil Wells," SPE 37531, 1997, pp. 173-182. |